Power tables and controls



Jan. 14, 1958 H. B. FUGE ETAL 2,819,779

POWER TABLES AND CONTROLS Filed Jan. 28', 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 nvwsgro. Harry uge WI NES Fi Edgar P Turner ATTORNEY Jan. 14, 1958 H. B. FUGE ET AL- POWER TABLES AND CONTROLS 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 Filed Jan. 28, 1955 INVENTOR.

and Harry B. Fuge WITNESS dgar R Turne r POWER TABLES AND CONTROLS Harry B. Fuge, Somerville, and Edgar P. Turner,

Watchung, N. 3., assignors to The Singer ManufacturlJng Company, Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of New ersey 1 Application January 28, 1955, Serial No. 484,645

3 Claims. (Cl. 192-18) This invention relates to power tables of the type generally used with industrial type sewing machines. The invention relates more particularly to a control device for the electric power transmitter with which the power table is fitted.

It is always a problem in sewing factories to keep the premises clear of lint and scraps of material. Generally, a large quantity of scraps will collect on the floor around the control treadle which is usually fastened to the floor or supported on a bar spaced only an inch or so above the floor. Since the treadle is so close to the floor, it is practicaly impossible to clean under the treadle.

An object of this invention is to provide a power table having a control treadle arranged to permit easy cleaning of the floor adjacent the treadle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a flexible connection between the control treadle and the power transmitter.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting the position and stiflness of operation of the treadle.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention, from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front view of a power table, partly in section and partly broken away, embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view taken substantially on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a power table 10 for an industrial type of sewing machine is shown having right end legs 11 and 12 and left end legs 13 and 14 which support a table top 15. A stabilizing bar or tube 16 is fastened to the left and right rear legs 13 and 11, respectively. A treadle support structure is carried by the tube 16 and comprises a pair of support tubes 17 and 18 which are clamped to the tube 16 by a pair of clamps 19 and 20. The clamps 19 and 20 permit the tubes 17 and 18 to turn about the stabilizing tube 16. The left support tube 18 (as viewed in Fig. 1) carries a support plate 21 which is firmly secured to the support tube 18 by a clamp 22. A similar support plate 23 is carried by the right support tube 17 and is fastened to the tube 17 by a clamp 24. The lower edges of the support plates 21 and 23 are provided with resilient pads 25 and 26 which normally rest on the floor when the power table is in operation. A treadle support tube 27 carried by the plates 21 and 23 pivotally supports a control treadle 28 on tapered bushings 29.

An electric powered clutch-brake motor or transmitter 30 is fastened to the table top 15 between the end legs.

United States, Paten F Patented Jan. 14, 1958 The transmitter is generally similar to the unit shown in the copending U. S. patent application Serial No. 285,504, filed May 1, 1952, of Edgar P. Turner and includes a rotatable driven shaft 31 journaled in an axially movable control sleeve 32 carried by the casing 33. A clutchbrake disc 34 is fastened to one end of the shaft 31 and carries a clutch facing 35 and a brake facing 36. The other end of the shaft 31 carries a belt pulley 37. An actuating lever 38 is pivotally carried by the casing 33 and is provided with a pin 39 which engages the walls of a groove 40 formed in the control sleeve 32. Movement of the lever 38 clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 1, about its pivot urges the brake facing 36 into engagement with a brake ring 41. Movement of the lever 38 in the op posite direction releases the brake and urges the clutch facing 35 into engagement with the face of a rotatable flywheel 42 which forms a driving clutch element. A flat leaf spring 43 carried by the casing 33 engages one end of the pin 39 and yieldingly urges the brake facing 36 toward the brake ring 41.

The transmitter 30 is controlled by a flexible cable 44 housed in a flexible sheath 45, one end of which sheath is fastened to the transmitter 30. One end of the flexible cable 44 is fastened to the transmitter actuating lever 38 by means of a ball-joint fitting 46 and he other end of the cable is fastened to one side of the control treadle 28 by a pivot stud 47. The other end of the flexible sheath 45 is fastened to the support plate 21 by an adjustable clamp 48. A coil tension spring 49 located adjacent to the support plate 21 has one end secured to the pivot stud 47 and the other end fastened to an adjusting screw 50 carried by the clamp 48 yieldingly to urge the toe of the treadle 28 upwardly. It will be appreciated that this spring 49 acting through the cable 44 assists the spring 43. In some instances the flat spring 43 can be omitted in which case the coil spring 49 functions to urge the brake facing 36 into engagement with the brake ring 41. The tension of the spring 49 can be varied by adjusting the anchor screw 50. In order to obtain different leverages from the treadle 28, a series of holes 51 is formed in one end-wall of the treadle 28. The treadle stud 47 can be placed in any one of these holes 51 to obtain the desired mechanical advantage. The clamp 48 is provided with a slot 52 which permits the clamp to be adjusted to a position where the end of the sheath 45 is directly above the treadle stud 47 to provide a substantially straight path of motion for the cable 44 between the end of the sheath 45 and the stud 47. It should also be noted that the position of the end of the cable 44 relative to the treadle stud 47 can be adjusted to provide different treadle positions by means of the threaded cable end 54 and the lock nut 55. The end of the sheath 45 can also be adjusted relative to the clamp 48 to provide for different treadle positions.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the operation and advantages of the unit will be apparent. When the unit is in normal use, the treadle 28 and its support structure are in the position shown in the drawings with the pads 25 and 26 resting firmly on the floor. This provides a sturdy, rigid treadle structure which can be operated in a conventional manner. When it is de sired to clean under the table, it is only necessary to lift the treadle 28 and its support structure, which pivots upwardly about the stabilizing tube 16, leaving the floor area under the table completely clear for cleaning. Since the cable 44 and sheath 45 are flexible, the treadle structure moves easily and upon return to its normal operating positon on the floor is ready for operation without further adjustment. The unit provides all of the desirable features for operation of a transmitter plus the advantage of permitting the area under the table to be easily cleaned.

Having thus forth the nature of the invention, what weclairnis:

l. A power unit adapted to drive a sewing machine comprising a stand having spaced end legs, a table top supported vby said end legs, a longitudinal stabilizing bar zuonrrected to said end legs, an electric powered clutch-brake transmitter carried by saids'tand, said :transmitter including a clutch-brake mechanism and actuating means for said mechanism, a control treadle support structure .rnotm'ted on said longitudinal stabilizer bar and comprising spaced transverse support members, a longitudinal treadle support, a control treadle pivotally mounted on said :trea'dle support, means attaching said longitudinal treadle support to said transverse support members, and means :connecting said transverse members to said longitudinal stabilizer bar for turning about the latter whereby said control treadle support structure may be moved away 'from'and above a normal floor engaging position, a flexible rcable having .one end secured to said transmitter clutch-brake actuating means, means for connecting the other :end of :said cable to said treadle, and resilient means on said treadle :control support structure and operatively connected to sm'd 'treadle for yieldingly urging said treadle toward a predetermined rest position 4 about said treadle support when said transmitter actuatingmeansis inta braked position.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the treadle is provided with means for adjusting the position of the connecting means of the other end of said cable relatively to said treadle support tube thereby to vary the mechanical advantage of said treadle.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the means connecting said longitudinal treadle support to said trans-verse members are substantially upright and said resilient means is connected at one end to said upright members adjacent the transverse members and at its other end is connected to said treadle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,237,705 Ryden Aug. 21, 1917 1,792,817 Chason Feb. 17, 1931 1964 459 Friedman June 26, 1934 V FOREIGN PATENTS 338,048 Great Britain Nov. '13, 1930 8777, 768 Germany Oct. 26, 1953 

